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Research · Supplements

Maca

Small trials report better self-rated sexual function and menopausal symptom scores, and reviewers call the evidence limited. A meta-analysis found no change in sperm concentration. Hormone levels did not change in healthy men. In a 90-day trial, maca alone raised AST and diastolic blood pressure.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-09
Status
Dietary supplement and food in the US.
Also called
Lepidium meyenii, Lepidium peruvianum, Peruvian ginseng, black maca, red maca, gelatinized maca, macamides
Taken for
libido, sexual function, erectile function, fertility, sperm quality, menopause symptoms, testosterone, energy, mood, endurance

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help3

Reported risks2

What people take it for, and what was found

Shown to help3

Limited

Sexual function and desire

Small trials found better sexual function scores than placebo in some groups, including men with mild erectile dysfunction, with no effect in healthy cyclists.

The numbers and sources
Effect
A systematic review of 4 RCTs found positive effects on sexual desire or dysfunction in two, no effect in healthy cyclists in one, and better IIEF-5 scores in one trial in erectile dysfunction [1]. In 50 men with mild erectile dysfunction, 2,400 mg a day for 12 weeks raised IIEF-5 more than placebo (1.6 vs 0.5 points) [2]. In 45 women with antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction, 3.0 g a day for 12 weeks gave higher remission rates than placebo, linked to postmenopausal status [3]. In 80 men with late-onset hypogonadism symptoms but normal testosterone, 12 weeks of gelatinized maca improved aging-symptom, erectile function and prostate symptom scores over placebo [4].
Population
Healthy adults, men with mild erectile dysfunction, women on SSRIs or SNRIs, older men [1][2][3][4].
Sources
[1], [2], [3], [4]
Caveats
The review judged the number of trials, sample sizes and quality too limited for firm conclusions [1].
LimitedStudied in women

Menopausal symptoms

Limited evidence: four small trials reported lower menopausal symptom scores in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

The numbers and sources
Effect
All 4 RCTs in a systematic review reported favorable effects on Kupperman and Greene climacteric scores in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women [5].
Population
Healthy perimenopausal, early and late postmenopausal women [5].
Sources
[5]
Caveats
Few rigorous trials, and the authors state safety had not been established [5].
Limited

Mood, energy and quality of life

One trial found better mood, energy and quality of life than placebo over 12 weeks in Peruvian adults at low and high altitude.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 175 adults living at low and high altitude, 3 g a day of red or black maca extract for 12 weeks improved mood, energy, health-related quality of life and chronic mountain sickness scores compared with placebo. Black maca lowered blood glucose [7].
Population
Adults in Peru at low and high altitude [7].
Sources
[7]
Caveats
One trial of spray-dried extracts.

Mixed results1

Limited

Physical performance

Limited evidence: large effects came mostly from animal tests, and a small trial in basketball players found no difference from placebo.

The numbers and sources
Effect
A meta-analysis of 16 studies reported large effects on forced swimming, rota-rod and grip strength tests and lower blood lactate [8]. In a crossover trial in 10 well-trained college basketball players, 2,000 mg a day for 2 weeks did not differ from placebo in jump height, shooting accuracy, repeated sprints, fatigue index or lactate clearance [9].
Population
Animal and human studies [8]. 10 male basketball players [9].
Sources
[8], [9]
Caveats
The outcomes are largely animal tests. The abstract does not report a separate human effect [8]. The basketball trial was small and short [9].

Not shown to help1

ModerateStudied in men

Semen quality

Not shown to raise sperm concentration against placebo, with mixed effects on other semen measures in infertile and healthy men.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In a meta-analysis of 5 RCTs, maca did not raise sperm concentration compared with placebo (mean difference 2.22, 95% CI -2.94 to 7.37, p = 0.4). Effects on other semen measures were mixed in infertile and healthy men [6].
Population
Infertile men and healthy men [6].
Sources
[6]
Caveats
Five small trials [6].

Doses studied

Trials used 1.75 g a day for 12 weeks [10], 2,400 mg a day of dry extract for 12 weeks [2], 3 g a day for 12 weeks [3][7], and 1,000 mg of gelatinized maca, two pills at a time, three times a day for 12 weeks [4]. The basketball trial used 2,000 mg a day for 2 weeks [9]. The 90-day safety trial gave 0.6 g a day [11].

Risks

Reported risks2

LimitedHow often is not known

Liver enzyme and blood pressure rise

One trial found a moderate rise in the liver enzyme AST and in diastolic blood pressure at 0.6 g a day in people with metabolic syndrome.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
In a 90-day randomized placebo-controlled trial in patients with metabolic syndrome, volunteers using maca at 0.6 g a day showed a moderate rise in AST and diastolic blood pressure. No adverse effects were found in the groups taking silymarin, with or without maca or yacon, and the authors report the effect could be reversed with silymarin [11].
Population
Patients with metabolic syndrome [11].
Sources
[11]
Caveats
One trial. The abstract does not give the size of the rise [11].
LimitedHow often is not known

Drug interactions

Case reports: in a review of adverse event reports, one linked maca taken with the antidepressant mianserin to restless legs syndrome.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
A retrospective review of 1,816 adverse event reports found 30 with a likely causal link to an adaptogen taken with an antidepressant. One involved maca with mianserin, followed by restless legs syndrome [12].
Population
Adverse event reports from people taking antidepressants [12].
Sources
[12]
Caveats
A single report with no denominator, so it cannot give a rate. The abstract does not describe the case further [12]. No interaction study of maca with any drug was located.

Checked, no increase found1

Limited

Tolerability in trials

Small trials found no serious side effects over 12 weeks at about 3 g a day.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
Maca was well tolerated over 12 weeks at 3.0 g a day [3]. In 175 adults, red and black maca extracts showed no serious adverse effects on self-recorded side effects over 12 weeks [7].
Population
Trial participants [3][7].
Sources
[3], [7]
Caveats
Short trials with small groups.

Claims tested and not found

  1. That maca raises testosterone or other hormones. In 20 healthy men given 1.75 g a day for 12 weeks, serum hormone levels did not change significantly [10].
  2. That maca raises sperm concentration. Pooled sperm concentration did not differ from placebo [6].
  3. That maca improves exercise performance in trained athletes. In 10 basketball players, jump, sprint and shooting tests did not differ from placebo after 2 weeks [9].
  4. That maca improves sexual function in healthy cyclists. One RCT in the 2010 review found no effect in this group [1].

Sources

  1. Shin BC, Lee MS, Yang EJ, et al. Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-10-44
  2. Zenico T, Cicero AF, Valmorri L, et al. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind clinical trial. Andrologia. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.2008.00892.x
  3. Dording CM, Schettler PJ, Dalton ED, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in women. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/949036
  4. Shin D, Jeon SH, Piao J, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Patients with Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. The World Journal of Men's Health. 2023. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.220112
  5. Lee MS, Shin BC, Yang EJ, et al. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) for treatment of menopausal symptoms: A systematic review. Maturitas. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.07.017
  6. Lee HW, Lee MS, Qu F, et al. Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on semen quality parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.934740
  7. Gonzales-Arimborgo C, Yupanqui I, Montero E, et al. Acceptability, Safety, and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Extracts of Black or Red Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Adult Human Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Pharmaceuticals. 2016. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph9030049
  8. Huerta Ojeda Á, Rodríguez Rojas J, Cancino-López J, et al. Effects of Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on Physical Performance in Animals and Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010107
  9. Wu PS, Wu SH, Jiang RS, et al. The Impact of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) Supplementation on Basketball-related Performance and Antifatigue Ability: A Double-blind Crossover Study. Journal of Physiological Investigation. 2025. https://doi.org/10.4103/ejpi.ejpi-d-25-00037
  10. Melnikovova I, Fait T, Kolarova M, et al. Effect of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormone Levels in Healthy Adult Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/324369
  11. Valentová K, Stejskal D, Bartek J, et al. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) and yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) in combination with silymarin as food supplements: in vivo safety assessment. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2007.10.031
  12. Siwek M, Woroń J, Wrzosek A, et al. Harder, better, faster, stronger? Retrospective chart review of adverse events of interactions between adaptogens and antidepressant drugs. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1271776

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